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Simone Perrotta saw red, but Roma clung on to beat Empoli with a Christian Panucci header.
The Giallorossi knew they could afford no more slip-ups if their Scudetto dreams were to remain alive, as the 3-2 loss to Lazio midweek widened the gap to seven points. Empoli had lost four on the trot, but Wednesday's draw with Juventus and the recollection they had fought back from 2-0 down for a 2-2 result against Roma in Week 11 made this a tricky test.
Roma missed the suspended Philippe Mexes and Alberto Aquilani, while Luca Saudati and Francesco Pratali sat out bans.
David Pizarro's shot on the bounce was over and a free kick blasted just past the bar by Francesco Totti. But Empoli had the first real scoring opportunity on 13 minutes, as Alexander Doni had his palms stung by Sebastian Giovinco, who had burst through the static defence to go clear on goal.
Giovinco nearly scored again when he went through the middle and drilled inches over the crossbar. Juventus-owned Giovinco startled the Olimpico and left Doni rooted to the spot, as he blasted another fantastic strike from 30 metres that smacked against the woodwork.
However, Roma heeded the warning and took the lead soon after. Totti's backheel inside the box sent Max Tonetto clear down the left channel for a shot in at the near post.
Only a few minutes after the restart, Empoli snatched a deserved equaliser. Ignazio Abate dribbled round Christian Panucci and rolled across for that man Giovinco to tap in.
The match exploded on 57 minutes with a straight red card for Simone Perrotta. Empoli had gone on the counter and Perrotta kicked Felice Piccolo from behind in a cynical challenge aimed at stopping the move, but a straight red seemed a little harsh.
Despite playing with 10 men, Roma restored their lead with Christian Panucci. His glancing header turned a Pizarro set-piece into the bottom far corner with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Totti gathered a Matteo Ferrari chipped pass and flashed a shot across the face of goal, then at the other end Rej Volpato failed to finalise an Ighli Vannucchi move.
Ferrari flung himself in front of Volpato's close-range finish from an Abate assist and in stoppages Volpato's header skimmed the woodwork.
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